Ironing machine



Feb. 17. 15925. 1,526,672

J. W. LOCKERBIE IRONING MACHINE Filed July 5, 1923 {Sheets-Sheet 1 wfwaw Patented Feb. 17, 1925. 4

JOHN WaLOCKERBIE, 01E MARBLEHEAD, MASSACHUSETTS,

I IRONING MACHINE.

Application filed July 5,

Z '0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN \V. Loomuune, a citizen of the United States. residing at Marblehead, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements in Ironing Machines. of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to animprovement in household mangles or ironing machines, and consists of such machine supported in a horizontal position when in use, and in a verticalposition at other times, and means for conveniently changing the position of the machine at will, and means for housing the machine in a vertical position when not in use.

The objects of my invention are to economize space in the kitchens and laundries of dwelling houses, particularly apartments, and to protect the machine from dust and vapor when not in use.

This invention is an improvement upon the invention described in my application. for Letters Patent of the United States now pending, Serial Number 631,960 filed April 14. 1923, the object of the present invention being to facilitate. the opening and closing of the cabinet.

In the accompanying drawing illustrating my invention. Fig. 1 is a side elevation of p the cabinet when the machine is in position for use. Fig. 2 is a side elevation. partly in section, with themachine in a vertical position within the cabinet. Fig. 3 is a plan View, partly in section, of the machine when in use. k,

Referring to the drawing, 4 is an upright cabinet approximately five feet in height. 6 is a table supporting an ironing machine or mangle 7 suitable for household use. The table 6 is secured to the inner wall 14' of the cabinet'which latter is so pivoted as to enable the ironing machine to be swung into the cabinet in a vertical position, and outwardly from the cabinet into a horizontal position. The cabinet 4 is approximately fifteen to sixteen inches square. The length of the table 6 is slightly less than the inside height of the cabinet 4, so as to be completely enclosed within it when the mangle 7 is not in use.

13, 13 are legs supporting the table 6 when in use. Any suitable support may be substituted for the legs 13, 13.. 14 forms the front wall of the cabinet 4. The front 1923. Serial No. 649,516.

wall 14 of the cabinet is divided into two sections 14* and 14 The section 14 is hinged to the section 14 at 28. The section 14" is hinged to the bottom of the cabinet at 29. The section 14 of the wall 14 is connected at the upper end with the inner wall of the cabinet by means of links 30. each of which is provided with a longitudinal slot 31 through which a stud 39., secured to the inner wall of the cabinet, extends, and upon which the link is pivoted and slides. The outer endof the link 30 is secured to the section l-t v-in the slot 34 by means of the pin 33.

The ironing machine or mangle 7 is so secured toand supported upon the table 6 that when the table is in a horizontal position the centre of gravity of the combined weight of the mangle 7 and the electric motor 18. hereinafter referred to. is at or near a point above the place 28 where sections l4 and-l4 of the front wall of the cabinet :4 are hinged together.

By means of the link 30 and the hinge connection 29, the section 14 of the front wall of the cabinet is permitted to swing outwardly, and to assume an outwardly inclined position as the cabinet is being opened and when the table 6 occupies a horizontal position and the mangle is in use.

In my former application, the table suppoiting the ironing machine was pivoted in brackctsin the wall of the cabinet. so that the weight of the ironing machine was not balanced upon the' pivots, and counterbalance weights or springs were employed to aid the operator in closing the cabinet.

In my present invention. by reason of hinging the front wall 14 of the cabinet 4 at the bottom at 29, so that it may be swung outwardly from the cabinet, I am able to divide the combined weight of the machine and the motor 18 nearly equally at the place where the two sections 14 and 14 of the table are hinged together, whereby the operator of the machine can with ease return the machine to the cabinet and close it.

When the wall of the cabinet supporting the ironing machine is at an angle of about 70 degrees, in the act of closing, the centre of gravity of the combined ironing machine and electric motor passes the pivotal point of the section 14 at 29 and thereby aids the operator in closing the cabinet.

16 is a tortional spring, one end of which is secured to the inner end of the table 6, and the other end to the bottom of the cabinet l at 17. When the machine is in use and the table 6 is in either a horizontal or vertical position, the spring 16 is at its maximum tension, and when the, table is at an angle of about forty-five derees, the tension of the spring 16 is neutral. hile the employment of a sprin is not necessary, it is a convenience in ai ing the operator to open and close the cabinet.

8 is a stop secured to the inside of the rear wall of the cabinet, against the underside of which the end of the table contacts, thereby aiding to support the ironing machine when in use. 2,

I do not limit my invention to the precise means shown or described for connecting the two sections 14 and 14 of the wall 14, or for connecting the section 14 to the bottom of the cabinet. ployed at these points that will permit the cabinet to be opened, and the centre of gravity of the combined weight of the ironing machine and its driving mechanism to be located near the joint between the two sections of the wall. that would be included within the scope of my invention.

18 is an electric motor mounted upon the inner end of the table 6 supporting the ironing machine, and adapted to take the current from the house fixtures by any of the well known connections, such as a plug and socket 19 in the wall of the cabinet.

20 is a driving belt and 21 a driving pulley on the shaft 22, on which is provided a worm driving the main roll 23 of the mangle 7 through the worm gear 27 and the gears 24 and 25.

I do not limit my invention to the particular style of mangle shown, nor to any particular type of motor or mechanism for operating it.

My invention resides chiefly in means for more accurately balancing an ironing machine which is adapted to be swung into a horizontal position for use, and into a vertical position within a cabinet when not in use, whereby the position of the machine may be changed by the operator with the minimum of effort.

Woman or even a child to handle.

Other means may be em-' What I claimand desire to secure by Let: ters Patent is:

1. The combination of a cabinet and an ironing machine adapted to be enclosed within said cabinet in an upright position, said ironing machine being supported upon one of the walls of said cabinet, said wall being divided on horizontal axes into two sections hinged together and, both movable relatively to the rest of the cabinet, and means for supporting the upper section of said wall in a horizontal position.

2. The combination of a cabinet, a table divided into sections hinged together on horizontal axes, the lower section of saidtable being movably secured to a' wall of the cabinet, an ironing machine and driving mechanism therefor supported by the upper section of said table and'ada-pted to be enclosed within the cabinet in an upright position, the center of gravity of the combined 'Weight of the ironing machine and its driv ing mechanisms being located near the point where said sections are hinged together when the ironing machine is in position for use;

' 3. The combination of a cabinet having one of its walls divided into two sections hinged together on horizontal axes, the lower section of said wall being hinged at its bottom edge to said cabinet, an ironing machine supported by the upper section of said wall, and means for supporting said upper section in a horizontal position.

4. The combination of a cabinet, one of the walls of which is divided into two sections hinged together on a horizontal axis, the lower section of said Wall being hinged at the bottom of the cabinet, the upper end of said lower section of the wall being connected with the eabinet by slidable means,

and an ironing machine supported upon the 7 upper section of said wall and adapted to be enclosed within said cabinet in an upright position. v

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses, this sixteenth day of June, 1923.

JOHN W. LOCKEBBIE. Witnesses:

A. G. SULLIVAN, CHAS. F. PERKINS. 

